Hitching device



(No Model.)

J. CUNNINGHAM.

' HITGHING DEVICE.

N0. 534,784. Patented Feb. 26,1895.

Jzuwzymyk. I

NITED STATES,

ATENT FFICE.

HITCHING DEVICE.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,784, datedFebruary 26, 1 895.

' Application filed September 19, 1894- Serial No. 523,475. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES CUNNINGHAM, of Oanastota, in the county ofMadison and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hitching Devices; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters and numerals of reference marked thereon, which formpart of this specification. Myinvention rela hitching devices.

In the drawings, which accompany and form apart of this specification,and in which similar letters and figures of reference refer tocorresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 shows a face view ofmy hitching device. Fig. 2 shows a side or edge view. Fig. 3 shows avertical central section. Fig. 4 shows the base part of the device indetail. Fig. 5 shows a cam lock in detail. Fig. 6 shows details of aspring catch for securing the cam lock. Fig. 7 shows a modified form ofconstruction of the base or body.

Referring to the reference letters and numerals in a more specificdescription of the device, 1 indicates the body or base, which is ofsuitable shape for the purpose, and which is provided with openings asa, a for the reception of screws to secure it on a post or othersupport. The lower end of the body is provided with an eye 2 forsecuring a ring 3, and the eye may be formed with an integral brad, asshown at 2*, to be driven into the post or support, or closed into aregular eye, as shown at 2 in Fig. 7. The bodyis also preferablyprovided with curved recesses or grooves b and 0 extending across theface at either end and adapted to receive a wire for binding the deviceon to a post, thereby securing it with greater certainty than bydepending on the screws alone. Pivotally mounted on the body by means ofa rivet 7 is a double faced cam 4 adapted to act against or inopposition to the shoulder 5 on the body. The double cam locking deviceis provided with a rim or edge 4? which swings by or passes the outerend of the shoulder 5. The under side or edge of the cam is providedwith es to an improvement in two sets of ratchet teeth 4 and 4; theteeth from either side inclining toward the point of the cam whichextends farthest eccentrically from the pivotal point. These teeth areadapted to be engaged by the teeth 6 of the spring catch 6; the toothbeing suitably elongated to adapt it to engage with the teeth in any ofthe positions of adjustment of the cam lock; the tooth being arrangedeccentrically with the pivotal point. The spring catch 6 is mounted orsecured on the rivet 7 between the cam lock and the base and the freeend 6 thereof extends in the opening 0 of the base in suitable positionto be pressed by the thumb or finger to disengage the catch and releasethe cam look, at the same time that it is protected by the wall of thebase from all sides except the top. I

The device furnishes a ready means for securing a rope or strap, Spreferably the halter or tie-strap, of a horse, the strap being insertedbetween the shoulder 5 of the device and the cam look while the cam isturned into the position shown in. dotted lines in Fig. 1, when the camis turned by hand so as to bind the strap or rope firmly between theshoulder 5 and the face of the cam. The rim 4* of the cam prevents thestrap or rope from being pulled out at the side or over the end of theshoulder 5. When the strap is secured by turning the cam, the cam islocked by the catch 6 with the tooth 6 thereof engaging in one or theother of the sets of ratchet teeth 4* or 4. In placing the strap or ropein the hitching device, the free end is placed to the side from whichthe cam is turned and the end of the rope or strap that is to receivethe draw, if any,is in the direction in which the cam is turned. Anydraw or pull on the strap, after being placed in the hitching device,will tend to secure the device more firmly by turning the cam to bindmore tightly against the shoulder 5. The face a; of the cam may besuitably roughened if desired. The ring 3 is provided simply as atie-ring for persons who might not be familiar with or desirous of usingthe working parts of the hitching device for the purpose for-which it isintended.

What .I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a hitching device of a body having a fixedshoulder, an eccentrically mounted cam having its face located oppositethe shoulder, and ratchet teeth on its inner edge, of aspring catchsecured in the body and adapted to engage in the ratchet teeth andsecure the cam, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a hitching device of a body having a fixedshoulder, a cam eccentrically pivoted on the body with its faceoperating in opposition to the shoulder, two sets of ratchet teeth onthe edge of the cam and a spring catch adapted to engage the ratchetteeth and secure the cam, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a hitching device of a body 1 having a fixedshoulder 5, a cam 4 eccentrically pivoted on the body with its faceoperating in opposition to the shoulder 5 and provided with a rim 4 onits outer edge, sets of ratchet teeth 4 and et on its inner edge, of acatch 6 secured to the body and having its movable end received within arecess in the body and also having an elongated tooth 6 adapted toengage with either set of ratchet teeth and secure the cam,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signanature in presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES CUNNINGHAM. Witnesses:

PETER P. SMITH, GEO. A. GAYMONDS.

